ASCD Presenter Bio

Abdul Wright

Abdul Wright has been an 8th grade language arts teacher in North Minneapolis, Minn., for the past six years. He is also an instructional coach and a data team leader. Wright strives to make a positive difference in impoverished communities while also striving to be the best version of himself. He graduated from Hamline University with a degree in education and completed an African American Leadership program in the spring of 2016. Wright earned his bachelor's degree in communication arts and literature in 2011. He received the Minneapolis PeaceMaker award from the city of Minneapolis in 2015 and the You've Made a Difference award from Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in 2015 and 2016. He also won the 2016 Minnesota Teacher of the Year award—the first black male to receive the award, the youngest, and the first from a charter school. In 2018, Wright was a Minnesota African American Heritage Award Honoree.